A Task-Based Ontology Approach to Automate Geospatial Data Retrieval

This paper presents a task‐based and Semantic Web approach to find geospatial data. The purpose of the project is to improve data discovery and facilitate automatic retrieval of data sources. The work presented here helps create the beginnings of a Geospatial Semantic Web. The intent is to create a system that provides appropriate results to application users who search for data when facing tasks such as emergency response or planning activities. In our task‐based system, we formalize the relationships between types of tasks, including emergency response, and types of data sources needed for those tasks. Domain knowledge, including criteria describing data sources, is recorded in an ontology language. With the ontology, reasoning can be done to infer various types of information including which data sources meet specific criteria for use in particular tasks. The vision presented here is that in an emergency, for example, a user accesses a Web‐based application and selects the type of emergency and the geographic area. The application then returns the types and locations (URLs) of the specific geospatial data needed. We explore the abilities and limitations of the OWL Web Ontology Language along with other Semantic Web technologies for this purpose.     

Suitability Analysis of Groundwater Quality for Domestic and Irrigation Usage in Yamuna Nagar District, India: A GIS Approach

The main source to fulfill the enormous needs of water both for domestic and agricultural purposes in the densely cultivated region of Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana (India) is the water under earth. Since enough quantity of good quality water has been readily available, the water quality concerns are often neglected. In the present study analysis of the geochemical characteristics of groundwater to assess its suitability for domestic and irrigation purposes has been done. Fifty-five samples were collected in the months of June (pre-monsoon) and October (post-monsoon) from the bore wells. These samples were analysed for various parameters and were compared with various national and international standards to determine the suitability of water for domestic and irrigation use. The thematic maps for hydrogen ion concentration (pH), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), electric conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), percent sodium (Na%) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) were prepared in GIS environment. These maps were further classified as per given standards to study the spatial variations of quality parameters and their suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. Investigations revealed that groundwater in general was hard for domestic use. However it was within the safe limits for drinking. Furthermore groundwater quality was well within the desirable to permissible limits for irrigation purpose.     

Geospatial modeling of biological richness in Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary of Orissa,India

The paper presents a geospatial modeling approach for the assessment of biological richness in Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary in Orissa located in the northern tip of the Eastern Ghats in India. Indian Remote Sensing satellite data of Resourcesat-1 LISS III and field sampling were used to model biological richness at 1:50,000 scale. It was found that the sanctuary is dominated by Sal mixed dry deciduous forest. The vegetation map prepared through visual interpretation of satellite imagery was subjected to landscape analysis and assessment of biotic disturbance using SPLAM software. The disturbance index together with species richness, ecosystem uniqueness, terrain complexity and total importance value was modeled to access the biological richness in the sanctuary. A total of 3.9 per cent area was found to posses very high plant richness followed by high (21.2%), medium (42.1%) and low (32.8%) in the sanctuary. The study demonstrated the geospatial technology in conjunction with landscape analysis, ground inventory and geospatial modeling seizes good potential for rapid assessment of biological richness. The fringe areas of the sanctuary having disturbance more because most of the small villages which are relocated from sanctuary, settled in those areas.     

Evaluating the Long-term Urban Expansion of Ranchi Urban Agglomeration,India Using Geospatial Technology

The present study analyzes the built-up expansion of Ranchi urban agglomeration over a period of about 8 decades from 1927–2005. Satellite images and topographical maps were used to evaluate land use dynamics during these periods. Built-up growth of 473.7% during 1927–2005 was primarily at the expense of agricultural land along with reduction of natural water bodies reflects negative impacts of built-up expansion, which increased many folds in recent decades. The built-up growth is also analyzed with reference to population growth, land consumption rate and land transformation. The land loss due to increasing built-up growth of Ranchi were compared with other capital regions and cities along with population increase to provide insight into the possible scenario of built-up expansion in Ranchi urban area.     

印度地理信息产业发展基础与现状研究

主要从地理信息资源生产管理体制、空间基础设施建设、产业政策3个方面分析了印度地理信息产业发展基础,并对当前印度地理信息产业规模、市场、企业、人才培养以及发展潜力等方面的现状进行了研究,对比我国分析了当前印度地理信息产业发展的优势和存在的制约。     

Geospatial Application in the Study of Beach Placer along the Coast of Gulf of Mannar,India

Abstract

Geospatial analysis of marine mineral placer deposits along the Gulf of Mannar is attempted. This study develops a method for the spatial anlaysis of data using geographical information system (GIS). Specifically, creating attribute data base structure, data encoding, data interpolation, and view shed analysis are attempted to delineate the opaque and garnet occurrences in the beach sediments. Data integration including the creation of digital files using TNT Mips software is performed. The interpolation of the spaced data is achieved by inverse distance weighed interpolation to define the zone of heavy mineral enrichment. This study has established the digital elevation model (DEM) capability to identify the potential beach placer zones in the study area.     

Geospatial approach for tiger habitat evaluation and distribution in Corbett Tiger reserve,India

India has a rich repository of flora and fauna, but the rapid decline of wildlife and threat to its habitat has been a serious cause of concern. Hence, protected areas have been set up to achieve specific conservation objectives to facilitate timely and reliable information on forest types and its composition, degradation status and their suitability for different species of flora and fauna. In the present study, evaluation of tiger habitat in Corbett Tiger reserve is carried out using remote sensing, ground and other ancillary sources and is integrated using GIS using multi-criteria model. The results indicated that sal, mixed sal, miscellaneous forest, plantation, grassland, agriculture and scrub land are the major land use/land cover types and majority of the study area is covered under dense forest. Tiger habitat suitability analysis showed that large proportion of the area (51.4%) was found to be highly suitable followed by moderately suitable area (31%). Further, the correlation drawn between range-wise suitability area and actual tiger population in Corbett Tiger Reserve CTR indicated a positive correlation of 0.73. Disturbance to wildlife habitat, vegetation degradation and shrinking passage corridor are the major concern in CTR.     

Geospatial Approach in Assessing Agro-Climatic Suitability of Soybean in Rainfed Agro-Ecosystem

The present study demonstrated the methodology to assess agro-climatic suitability of the soybean crop through integration of crop suitability based on FAO framework of land evaluation and biophysical (water limited) yield potential in the rainfed agro-ecosystem. A long term climatic database (1980–2003) was prepared to compute decadal rainfall and temperature variations of 13 IMD stations in part of Madhya Pradesh state. The climatic database was used in soil water balance software–BUDGET to compute crop specific length of growing period (LGP) and biophysical production potential such as water limited crop yield potential of each soil types for soybean crop. Water limited crop yield potential of soils were found to be varied from 33 to 100 and LGP ranged from 65 to 180 days in the area. FAO based land suitability was analyzed in association with the water limited yield potential for better appraisal of land potential and assess their suitability in rainfed area. FAO based land suitability indicated 2.45 % area as highly suitable and 57.49 % area as moderately suitable. However, integration of water limited crop yield potential with FAO based land suitability lead to agro-climatic suitability analysis indicated 17.60 % and 40.03 % area, respectively as highly suitable and moderately suitable. FAO based land evaluation showed 88.13 % of plains as moderately suitable whereas agro-climatic suitability indicated only 47.79 %. Agro-climatic suitability analysis revealed undulating plateau and undulating plains as most suitable for soybean crop.     

Drainage Analysis in a Part of the Brahmaputra Valley in Sivasagar District, Assam, India, to Detect the Role of Neotectonic Activity

An analysis of the drainage network of a part of Sivasagar district, Assam, India, is undertaken to reveal the role of neotectonic activity of the area. A number of fluvial geomorphic anomalies have been identified in the area. A prominent annular drainage anomaly is displayed by the major rivers—the Dikhu, Jhanzi, Namdang, Dorika and Disang, whose courses are carved in response to the ongoing tectonic deformation in the area. This study reveals that the development of topography and drainage system of the study area have been influenced by active subsurface geological structures. Formation of paleochannels, compressed meanders, reticulate streams, swamps, sagging of grounds, stream alignments, lineaments, knick points and abandonment of rivers as well as development of smaller drainage anomalies also substantiate the active nature of the subsurface structures.     

Integrated GIS and Remote Sensing Approach to Map Pollution in Upper Lake,Bhopal, India

Abstract

Upper Lake is the lifeline of Bhopal City, India for drinking and other water needs. In recent years, environmentalists have expressed their serious concern on deteriorating water quality of this lake. Conventional field sampling methods for monitoring lake water quality lack spatial information about the pollution in the lake. It is desirable to have spatial information about the lake for better management and control. In the present paper the remote sensing data from IRS-1C LISS III have been integrated into a GIS environment to analyse and create a pollution zone map of the Upper Lake.

Spectral reflectance analysis was carried out to find the suitability of wavelengths for determining chlorophyll‐a concentration (chl‐a), suspended solid concentration (SSC) and secchi depth (SD). Empirical models relating spectral reflectance and chl‐a, SSC and SD were developed using least square regression analysis. These models were found valid on unused samples. Chl‐a, SSC and SD distribution maps were generated using proposed models and were incorporated as datalayers in the GIS for further analysis of pollution zones. The spatial information of pollution offered by the pollution zone map could delineate regions of lake having high pollution load. The methodology employed in this work can be used for regular monitoring of the pollution in surface water bodies and serve the data needs for better management of the water quality.     

地理空间数据资源共享交换平台建设初探

地理空间数据资源是国家重要的信息资源和战略资源,利用基础地理空间信息数据,集成和整合与地理空间位置有关的社会经济发展需要的信息数据对推进信息化建设、防止"信息孤岛"及重复投入具有十分重要的意义。本文论述了新疆地理空间数据资源共享交换平台的初期建设情况,通过该平台的建设可以实现全疆地理空间数据资源的跨部门共享交换和开发利用,对于加快新疆地理空间数据资源开放共享机制建立健全的步伐有积极作用。     

Assessing the Priorities for Sustainable Forest Management in the Sikkim Himalaya,India: A Remote Sensing Based Approach

Sikkim is a small, mountainous, Indian state (7,096 km²) located in the eastern Himalayan region. Though a global biodiversity hotspot, it has been relatively less studied. A detailed forest type, density and change dynamics study was undertaken, using SATELLITE remote sensing data and intensive field verification. The landscape was found to be dominated by alpine and nival ecosystems, with a large portion above the tree line, considerable snow cover, and a sizeable area under forest cover (72%, 5,094 km²). A total of 18 landscape components including 14 vegetation classes were delineated, with the major ones being oak forest, alpine meadow, alpine scrub, conifer forest and alder-cardamom agro-forestry. Of the 3,154 km² of forests below the tree line, 40% were found to be dense (>40% tree canopy cover). A sizeable portion of the non dense forests below the tree line was contributed by the degradation of oak forests, which was confirmed by change detection analysis. However on a positive front over the past decade, ban on grazing and felling of trees in forests has been implemented. In order to expand the extent of dense forests, further efforts are needed for the restoration of oak forests such as fire protection, providing alternatives to firewood use, promotion of alder-cardamom agro-forestry in the private lands and protection of the small-sized, fragmented forest patches in the subtropical belt.     

Desertification Vulnerability Assessment Model for a Resource Rich Region: A Case Study of Bellary District,Karnataka, India

Desertification is a global challenge being experienced across countries irrespective of their levels of development. Desertification is a complex negative process involving both natural and human components in terms of their socio-economic attainments. Hence, for identification and assessment of the process, pattern, magnitude and possible impacts of desertification, a multi-disciplinary approach with inter-disciplinary framework of analysis is essential. This study has made such an attempt to develop a comprehensive desertification vulnerability assessment Model on the basis of multi-variate Principal Component Analysis along with the Geographic Information System framework by using natural and socio-economic resources data inputs from census, satellite data and other sources. Bellary district, located in a rapidly growing southern state of India, Karnataka which is afflicted with various natural and development issues such as droughts, backwardness, haphazard mining, over irrigation, and associated effects of land degradation, siltation and water pollution has been chosen for the study. The inter-disciplinary framework based desertification vulnerability assessment model has assessed that 1379.198 km² area (15.55%) of Bellary district is prone to desertification (based on the satellite data IRS LISS III data of Dec 2005, Feb 2006, March 2006 and April 2006). In addition, 3229.337 km² (36.40%) is under moderate vulnerability which is fragile. Hence, unless proper development intervention and conservation measures are taken well in advance, almost more than half of Bellary district (51.95%) will be vulnerable to desertification. Spatially, the talukas that are seriously affected and that require development intervention on high priority are: Sandur, Kudligi, Hospet and Bellary which are the prime talukas of the district.     

基于XML的可互操作空间对象的探讨

地理空间数据的互操作研究是近年来地理信息系统 (GIS)研究中的一个热点 ,本文针对这个问题结合新一代互联网置标语言XML(eXtensibleMarkupLanguage)在互操作以及GIS领域的运用 ,做这样一种理论与实践的探索 ,主要介绍一种可互操作地理空间对象IGO(InteroperableGeospatialObjevts)概念模型 ,来讨论它对空间互操作的解决方法 .并且着重探讨了XML基础上的GIS互操作问题 ,阐明XML对于实现空间互操作的重要意义 ,指出不仅要在元数据层实现互操作 ,同时应致力于空间数据的基于XML的互操作研究。     

Ground Water Quality Maps of Paravanar River Sub Basin,Cuddalore District,Tamil Nadu,India

Ground water is an excellent solvent, which dissolves chemicals ions as it moves through rocks and subsurface soil. This leads to more mineralization in groundwater than surface water. The objective of the present study is to examine the groundwater quality of the Paravanar River Sub-basin, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The Electrical Conductivity (EC) values ranges between 160 and 2,580 μS/cm in groundwater samples. The highest value of 2,580 μS/cm was recorded in wells near the coast. pH values ranges from 7.2 to 8.6. NNE and southern part of the study area has low pH values, rest of the area represents the alkaline nature of groundwater. In south eastern part of the study area alkali values are slightly higher but it is within WHO’s tolerable limits. The spatial distribution of chloride concentration shows that Meenatchipettai, Vazhisothani palayam and Allapakkam represents maximum Cl₂ concentration of 527, 320 and 374 ppm, which is above ISI drinking standards of 250 ppm. Increase in isochlore is observed from the coast up to the Neyveli lignite mine. Nitrate concentration of groundwater samples ranges from 0.1 mg/l to 64 mg/l. As most of the study area is cultivated, fertilizers used for agriculture may be the cause for increase in concentration of nitrates in few concentrated locations.     

Application of Remote Sensing in Studying Holocene Sediments and Tectonic Episodes at Kelshi,Ratnagiri District,Maharashtra, India

Kelshi is a coastal village, located on the southern bank of the Bharja river in Dapoli taluka of Ratnagiri district. All along the coast occurs a habitation site which is overlaid by a sand deposit having a thickness of +20 m. The archaeological artifacts collected around the site are found to be significant in understanding the antiquity of the site. It also substantiates that, human occupation survived here for seven centuries. Remote sensing data interpretation carried out has revealed the existence of three lineaments in this area. In the field, the lineaments have been confirmed as faulted surfaces and the magnitude of the movements along are measurable. A geophysical survey was conducted by using ABEM WADI equipment for confirmation of outcome of the aerial-photo interpretation. It confirms that the area had undergone three tectonic activities after 1524 A.D. The inferences based on the investigations convinced us to study the historical seismicity of this region. A comprehensive and exhaustive investigation in such areas is necessary to know the evolution of the west coast of India and the tectonic activity during the late Holocene.     

Mapping of Coal Fire in Jharia Coalfield,India: a Remote Sensing Based Approach

In India, Jharia Coalfield (JCF) has one of the densest congregations of surface-subsurface coal fires known worldwide. Systematic investigation and quantification of actual scenario of coal fires in JCF is always necessary to plan sustainable mining, industrial growth and environmental remediation on a long term basis. The present approach involves evaluation and mapping of coal fire using ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection) data. Mapping reveals that the area located around western, eastern and south-eastern parts of JCF covering territories of Shatabdi opencast, Barora; Sijua opencast; Godhar colliery; Kusunda; Bokapahari; Kujama and Lodna are under intense fire with cumulative coverage of 6.23 km². The ASTER derived Land Surface Temperature (LST) of the anomalous areas have been subsequently validated by the field observations, carried out in JCF in February, 2010. The methodology adopted in the present study would provide precise evaluation and monitoring of coal fire in Jharia.